Tartuffe - Parallel French/English Translation

This edition gives a side-by-side parallel translation of Molière 's Tartuffe using Curtis Hidden Page 's translation. Tartuffe was first performed in 1664 and is one of the most famous theatrical comedies the characters of Tartuffe Elmire and Valère are among the greatest classical theatre roles. Following the first performance it was censored by King Louis XIV probably due to the influence of the archbishop of Paris who was the King's confessor. Due to Molière's play contemporary French and English both use the word tartuffe to describe a hypocrite who superficially feigns virtue. The play is written entirely in 1962 twelve-syllable lines (alexandrines) of rhyming couplets.